Contractor employs infrared camera to locate drafts in homes

The new camera allows Quincy contractor to survey a window and pinpoint the source of a draft, or to scan a roof to precisely locate a leak.

A.J. Bauer

Dan Stock admits leaving his job as a portfolio accountant for State Street Corp. to start his own home improvement contracting business was a “risky maneuver.”

But the 28-year-old Quincy resident said his company, DJS Home Improvement Inc., has thrived since he founded it in 2002, in large part, he said, due to his attempts to distinguish his company from the multitude of other contractors in the area.

“We want to make sure our customers are comfortable and consider us a friend in the business,” Stock said. “We want to develop solid relationships.”

For years, Stock said he worked toward that goal by building three. three-man crews – one for roofing, another for siding and one for window work. Each crew must finish a job, he said, before moving on to the next.

While his Quincy company’s structure has proven successful, Stock said he was still looking for something else that would make it stand out.

Then, through his research, Stock was introduced to Flir Systems, a Wilsonville, Ore.-based company that specializes in infrared thermography cameras. Now, after $15,000 worth of training and equipment, Stock believes he’s found his company’s niche.

The new camera – which takes infrared photos that visualize temperature differences – allows Stock to survey a window and pinpoint the source of a draft, or to scan a roof to precisely locate a leak. It allows his workers to focus exclusively on fixing the problem at hand, instead of spending time figuring out the cause.

“Infrared has been around for a while, but only now is it starting to break through into the mainstream,” Stock said.

And with the economy in the midst of a downturn, Stock is hoping the new technology will allow him to capitalize on the burgeoning interest in “being green.” He is offering energy audits to help people see how they can maximize their energy efficiency and minimize their bills.

“And if they want to fix the problem, we’re fully licensed and we can do the work, too,” he said.